T-Von's Boss CS-3 Compressor Mod

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Boss CS-3 Compressor - The Boss CS-3 Compressor Sustainer is a popular favorite among many guitarists, especially chickin pickers such as Brent Mason. Stock this pedal sounds decent but colors the tone a little too much. It does a good job at the under $100 price point. For a better Compressor you'll have to spend $200 to $250 on either a vintage Ross or one of the other custom built Compressors you see on sold on eBay. The CS-3 can be made to sound equally as good as Compressors costing two to three times its cost by changing a few of its components. What sets the more expensive Compressors apart from these mass produced pedals are the quality of the components used in them. By swapping out these cheaper quality parts with more expensive higher quality components and changing a few values here and there you can substantially improve the quality of the affect of the CS-3. I've played compressors costing $300 that don't sound any better than a CS-3 that has been modded with this Mod Kit. By changing out a few components here and there this pedal will compete with boutique pedals costing much much more. Do yourself a favor and upgrade your CS-3 with this Mod Kit. You'll be floored by the quality of the tone this Mod Kit will give your CS-3.

T-Von

IMPORTANT: You must check the pedal after each component you change. You do not have to reassemble the pedal, just plug the power and the input and output jacks in. Plug up a guitar and amp and make sure the pedal is functioning properly. Do not call or e-mail me if you perform all the component changes without checking after each component change, I will not be able to help you. If you check the pedal after each component change and there is a problem, you'll know exactly which component is causing the problem. If you perform component changes without checking the pedal after each component change, and you discover a problem, there is no way you or I can tell which component is causing the problem. SO, PLEASE CHECK THE PEDAL AFTER EACH COMPONENT CHANGE to make sure it is functioning properly!

Click on Images to Enlarge

NOTE - The CS-3 PC Board is labeled with a letter followed by one, two or three numbers. The Letter stands for either (C) Capacitor, (R) Resistor or (D) Diode. Use the pics below along with the chart to the right to locate and identify the item to Mod. All items to be Modded are identified by a red circle with a yellow letter. Locate the circle with the letter on the PC Board and install the Mod in the chart to the right that is associated with that letter. Click on the Pics to enlarge them.

Mod/Location/Original


(A) R36 - 10k ohm Resistor

(B) C2 -.022uF Capacitor

(C) C4 - 1uF Capacitor

(D) C6 - 1uF Capacitor

(E) C7 - .01uF Capacitor

(F) C10 - .047uF Capacitor

(G) C13 - .047uF Capacitor

(H) C16 - .047uF Capacitor

(I) - C17 - 1uF Capacitor

(J) - C14 - 1uF Capacitor

(K) - C9 - .01uF Capacitor

(L) C18 - .01uF Capacitor

(M) C15 - .047uF Capacitor

(N) D1 - 1N4004 Diode
Mod


A - 2.2k ohm Resistor

B - .1uF Capacitor

C - 1uF Capacitor

D - 1uF Capacitor

E - .047uF Capacitor

F - .1uF Capacitor

G - .047uF Capacitor

H - .1uF Capacitor

I - 1uF Capacitor

J - 1uF Capacitor

K - .047uF Capacitor

L - .047uF Capacitor

M - .047uF Capacitor

N - 1N34A Diode
Affect


A - Richer Fuller Tone

B - Cleaner Sustain

C - Hi-Fi Mod

D - Hi-Fi Mod

E - More Clarity & Body

F - Adds Presence

G - Hi-Fi Mod

H - Hi-Fi Mod

I - Hi-Fi Mod

J - Hi-Fi Mod

K - Adds Clarity & Body

L - Adds Clarity & Body

M - Hi-Fi Mod

N - Smooth Tube-Like Vibe

Instructions - Use the supplied De-soldering Braid to absorb the existing solder from the components being modded. I like to mark the bottom of the PC Board with a marker before starting so there's no confusion as to which contact to de-solder. Perform one Mod at a time. After each Mod hook the pedal up and test it. This way if there's a problem you'll know exactly where it is. Each solder contact should be smooth and shiny. Make sure the solder is contained and doesn't spread into an adjacent contact or else you will short out the signal. If you do spread solder into another connection by accident don't sweat it, simply use the de-solder braid and suck it up and start over.


Tools Needed or Recommended - 15 or 30 Watt Fine Pencil Tip Soldering Iron, Small Wire Cutters, Multi Meter, Desoldering Braid (supplied), Resin Core Solder (supplied), Magnifying Glass, Phillips Head Screwdriver, Needle Nose Pliers, a Dash of Patience, Good Music to Groove to, Felt-tip Marker, if you're over 40 (like me) a good pair of +1.25 or +1.50 Reading Glasses.

 

WARNING! - If your CS-3 is an older Japan issue and or requires an ACA Adapter your pedal will have a Resistor in (R32) and a Diode in (D10). You will need to remove the resistor in R32 and the Diode in D10 and add a jumper wire in both places. Use one of the legs you cut off one of the other components for the jumper wire for both of these. If you don't add the jumpers your LED may not light up and if it does it will be very dim. Adding the jumper wires add more voltage to the circuit and improves the tone of the pedal. As you can see in the pic above (which is a Pic of a New CS-3 PCB) the newer CS-3s already have these components removed and the jumpers added. If you own a newer CS-3 (that uses a PSA Adapter) you simply do nothing, the jumpers have been added for you.

 

A - (Fuller Tone Mod) Replacing this 10k ohm resistor with a 2.2k ohm Metal Film Resistor adds a rich, fuller bodied vibe back into the circuit.

B - (Cleaner Sustain Mod) Replacing this .022uF polyester capcitor with a much Higher Quality .1uF Metal Fim Capacitor adds clarity back into the circuit when the sustain knob is pushed.

C, D, G, H, I, J & M - (Hi-Fi Mods) Replacing these lower quality polyester and electrolytic capacitors with Higher Quality Metal Film, Metal Box Film and Tantalum Capacitors add clarity and smoothness back into the circuit for a more Hi-Fi Tone. NOTE: The 1uF Tantalum Capacitors have a positive and negative side. On Mods C & D the side with the most writing will face right in the pic above. On Mod I the side with the most writing will face to the left in the pic above. On Mod J the side with the most writing will face toward the bottom in the pic above.

E, K & L - (Clarity & Fullness Mods) Replacing these lower quality polyester capacitors with Higher Quality Metal Film Capacitors of different values add fullness, warmth and body back into the circuit. By changing out these lower quality capacitors with Metal Film Capacitors of different values we give the pedal a more focused and Hi-Fi Character that is extremely transparent and quiet even at higher compression and sustain settings.

F - (Presence Mod) Replacing this lower quality polyester capacitor with a higher quality .1uF Metal Film Capacitor of a different value adds Presence and Clarity back into the circuit.

N - (Tube-Tone Mod) Replacing this 1N4004 diode with a 1N34A Germanium Diode adds a very Fat, Smooth, Tube-Like Tone into the circuit. This Mod gives the CS-3 a very Vintage Opto Style Compression Character. This is my favorite Mod for the CS-3. This 1N34A Germanium Diode has a positive and negative side. Make sure the side with the stripe is pointed in the same direction as the Triangle arrow on PCB. Installing this diode backwards will blow it, so take special care to install it correctly. NOTE: You will not see the triangle until the old diode is removed.

 

NOTE: VERY IMPORTANT - I recommend doing each mod and checking the pedal after each one. This way if there is a problem you will know exactly where to look. The key here is to take your time. Some of the Mods are very noticeable while others are more subtle. Some of the Mods replacing lower quality components with higher quality ones will give the CS-3 a more Hi-Fi and focused tone. This becomes more noticeable when recording or playing live at moderate to loud levels. You will notice a tighter more defined tone than before. The Harmonics will also become more enhanced. It's almost like removing a blanket from the pedals tone. All of these Mods when performed together will transform the CS-3 into an awesome compressor.

DISCLAIMER - My Mods are intended to be used by individuals that are 18 years of age or older unless accompanied by a supervising parent or guardian. Soldering Guns can cause serious injury if not used properly. Always take the proper precautions when soldering. Always unplug power from the pedal when performing these modifications